Wind-deflector signal lamp



P 3, 1929- E. HOLMSTROM 1,726,895

WIND DEFLECTOB SIGNAL LAMP F-iled Jan. 6, 1928 Patented Sept. 3, 1929.

UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL HOLMSTROM, OF TW'O HARBORS, MINNESOTA.

WIND-DEFLECTOR SIGNAL LAMP.

Application filed January 6, 1928. Serial No. 244,943.

This invention pertains to lamp protectors, and more particularly to deflector plates for lamps to protect the light under service conditions.

Difficulty has heretofore been encountered in tending oil signal and other lamps subject to the weather, for the reason that water, snow, wind, bugs, etc. passed into the lamp casing, extinguishing the flame. It has been decidedly unpractical to electrify all signals throughout the railroad system, and even if this were practical, it is not desirable in a good many instances. It was then a very crying need to provide some sort of protecting device for oil lamps, which is suitable for all types, inexpensive and which does not obstruct the light.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an effective yet inexpensive light protector which will fulfill all requirements of manufacture and service.

Another object is to provide a deflector for signal or other lamps which may easily be applied to standard as well as to special lamps.

A further object is to provide a deflector for lamps which may be so constructed and applied as to permit operation of said lamp but will prevent the introduction of foreign matter to the flame in said lamp.

lVith these and various other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction and operation as will be more fully described and particularly pointed out in the specification, drawings and claims appended hereto.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts Figure 1 is a vertical elevation of a straight body marker lamp utilizing the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional elevation through the top of the lamp, indicating the positioning of the device, which is the subject-matter of this invention;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view, showing the disposition of the invention in the lamp top, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure at is an enlarged top plan view of the device per se; and

Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of the device illustrated in Figure 4, the same being taken substantially in the plane as indicated by the line 55 of Figure 1.

The straight body marker lamp 10, which,

however, may be of any type, though preferably a lamp in which long-time burners with chimneys are used, isprovided with a suitable number and class of lenses 12 supported by the body. or casing 13, which casing is of the type conforming to the particular lamp employing the invention. A movable or lunged top or cover 14 is provided having an outer depending flange or securing skirt 15 adapted to engage the casing 13, said skirt being adjacent or supporting a downwardly depending skirt 16 adapted to enclose the top of the lamp chimney 17 said skirt 16 being adjacent or cooperating with an upwardly extending and opening skirt 18 spaced from and adjacent the upwardly extending and opening guard or draft member 19, said member being provided with stanchions or supports 20 for fastening the top or deflector 21 to said movable top assembly. Adjacent skirt 16, there may be provided other de pending skirts 22 and 23 supporting an an nular perforated member 24-; disposed between the skirt 16 and the depending flange 15.

The chimney 17 is supported on any suitable type of oil lamp 25, disposed within casing 13. The deflector plate 26, which is the subject-matter of this invention, is preferably disposed between the skirts 16 and18 and above the chimney 17 in such a manner as to protect the flame, especially in stormy weather. This deflector plate may conven iently be made of sheet metal, the body or perforated portion 27, of any desired diameter, being convexo-concave shape and having any number of flexible preferably integral prongs 28 .for positioning the deflector in its operative position by merely inserting the prongs in convenient spaces, such as between skirts 16 and 18.

The perforations 30 in the body 27 are pierced from the concave side of the plate, thus causing the metal 31 around the perforations to project upwardly as the plate is inserted within the switch lamp cover with its convex cover up. The perforations are of course of any desired number, and although the heated air is permitted to freely escape, the deflector will prevent the flame of the lamp from being extinguished by a too direct downward current of air, drifting snow, drops of water, insects, etc., as it will be easily understood that any foreign matter introduced in the top of the lamp will strike the deflector plate and be directed toward the sides of the lamp and will in no case descend the chimney to the flame. None of this matter will be able to escape through the deflector plate as the prongs around the perforations will prevent entry of this foreign matter through said holes. 7

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms of the device will of course r'eadily occur to those skilled in the art.

I claim: e V

1. In a device of the character described, the combination of a lamp casing having a burner and draft member therefor disposed therein, draft means in said casing cooperating with said first named draft member,-and a guard disposed in said second named draft member by spring lugs adapted to be snapped into holding position, said guard being disposed in said second, named draft member for preventing introduction of foreign matter into said first named draft member, said I guard including an upwardly disposed convex member having perforations therethrough provided with upwardly directed edges to prevent unauthorized passage of matter.

2. A signal lamp comprising, in combination, a casing having a cylindraceous upper portion, a source of illumination mounted within the casing and a deflector plate mounted within the upper portion of the casing said deflector plate being in the form of a concavo-convex disk having a central perforated portion located directly above the source of illumination and being of less area than the opening in which it is positioned whereby a circumferential opening is provided between the deflector plate and the cylindraceous upper portion of the casing, and upwardly and inwardly flared skirt portion positioned to surround the outer edge portion of the deflector plate to assist in regulating the passage of air from the exterior of the casing to the interior thereof.

Signed at Two Harbors, Minnesota, this 16th day of Dec, 192?.

EMIL I-IOLMSTROM. 

